While those of us who are fortunate to have housing struggle to deal with the impacts of the pandemic, those experiencing homelessness have even more challenges. Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, Inc. has requested and been awarded funding to help meet some of the needs that have been identified by its staff. Hygiene kits that will provide hand sanitizer, mosquito repellant, and other items to protect and hopefully keep them well.

Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, Inc. (MFHC) and its partners assess the needs of those experiencing homelessness. Once the pandemic hit and the CDC provided a list of medical conditions that would make people more vulnerable, MFHC created a list of those who are literally homeless (not in shelter) and most vulnerable due to their medical conditions. Many do not have access to needed prescriptions or health related items. Imagine being diabetic, having COPD, immunocompromised state, and not being able to afford to get needed medications or supplies and living in the woods.

Based on these findings, we knew we needed to ask for funding for prescription and over-the-counter medications, first aid items and supplies. “Thanks to the generosity of this grant, we are excited to be able to address head-on some of the medical and basic survival needs of our participants who are most-vulnerable during this stressful, uncertain time.”

For more information on what you can do to help or to request a speaker, please contact Barbara Wheeler, Mid Florida Homeless Coalition at (352) 860-2308 or by e-mail at mfhc.information@gmail.com

Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, Inc., as the Collaborative Applicant for FL-520 – Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Sumter Counties CoC, would like to announce the projects that will be submitted with the FY2019 HUD CoC Grant Application.

There were not projects submitted that were either rejected or reduced.

Sumter County has been awarded $37,005 to supplement Emergency Food and Shelter Programs in the county. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide. The Local Board was charged to distribute these Federal funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

A Local Board made up of United Way of Lake & Sumter Counties, Mid Florida Community Services, Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, Inc., et al. will determine how the funds awarded to Sumter County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds made available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board; local agencies chosen to receive funds must:

1) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food, shelter, or utility assistance programs

2)  be eligible to receive Federal funds

3)  be private voluntary non-profits or units of government  

4)  have an accounting system

5)  practice non-discrimination

6) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board
7) applicants must be entering data into the Mid Florida Information Network system or willing to participate (Local Board recommendation)

Sumter County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with Hope Ministries. This agency was responsible for providing food assistance.

Applications are now available.
Agencies interested in applying for EFSP Phase 36 Program funds may:

• Email a request to mfhc015@gmail.com
• Find it on the midfloridahomeless.org website
• Pick up an application at the Mid Florida Homeless Coalition office located at
  104 E. Dampier St., Inverness, FL, 34450 (Office hours are 8:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday)
  Phone: 352-860-2308

Completed applications are to be submitted to Mid Florida Homeless Coalition via mail or drop-off. The deadline for application submission is September 13, 2019 by 5:00pm. Applications received at 5:00 p.m. will not be accepted.

Letters of Intent were due last Friday, but the Governing Board is allowing an extension of this deadline to this Friday, August 16, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. The letter is to be sent to Paula Holtsclaw at mfhc02@gmail.com. You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your letter. 

8/23/2019 – Project application deadline – your application needs to be submitted in HUD’s e-snaps system along with the two documents that are found on our website at https://midfloridahomeless.org/library/. Once you have Submitted your application in e-snaps, please notify Paula Holtsclaw at mfhc02@gmail.com. You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your email. The additional documents must be in our office by 5:00 p.m. on 8/23/2019.

If you need technical assistance, please call our office and speak to Paula Holtsclaw. We will schedule personal technical assistance, online assistance, or direct you to materials that will assist you. 

9/30/2019 – FY2019 CoC Program Competition Application DEADLINE
9/25/2019 – Post on website all parts of the Application (at least two days before submission)
9/13/2019 – Notify Project applicants of acceptance/ranking (at least 15 days prior to 9/30/2019)
8/29/2019 – Review, Score, Rank
8/23/2019 – Project application deadline (at least 30 days before 9/30/2019)
8/9/2019 – Letter of Intent

A combined Governing Board and Continuum of Care Meeting of the FL-520 – Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Sumter Counties CoC was held on Friday, July 26, 2019. As a part of the annual review of the Governance Charter, it was recommended that a change be made to the following section by replacing the “up to thirteen (13) members” with “at least thirteen (13) members”.

1. THE GOVERNING BOARD
2. BOARD MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTION
3. 2. There will be up to thirteen (13) members of public & private sectors vested in homelessness issues throughout the four (4) county area. The Governing Board will include the following:
4. a) At least one (1) currently or formerly homeless person (in accordance to the current definition of homeless by HUD), and
5. b) At least one (1) ESG-funded agency representative;

This change will allow the Governing Board to expand to meet the needs of the CoC.

A vote on this on this change to the Charter will take place at the meeting of August 23, 2019. It is a Governing Board and CoC Meeting, and it is open to the public.

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is an annual program where people come together across the country to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness. Participating groups spend the week holding a series of educational, service, fundraising, and advocacy events.

Volunteer. Donate. Educate.

Everyone can do something to address the needs of people who are hungry or homeless. Be a part of the solution. Call Mid Florida Homeless Coalition or any not-for-profit near you to get more information on how you can get involved.

Press Release

For immediate release:

Contact: Barbara Wheeler at 352.697.0623

Mid Florida Homeless Coalition will be submitting by September 18th six projects that are proposed to serve homeless persons in Citrus, Hernando, and Lake Counties in the annual HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) grant application.

Mid Florida Homeless Coalition (MFHC) has been submitting an application on behalf of Citrus, Hernando, Lake and Sumter Counties since 2004. Citrus County Housing was awarded its first Permanent Supportive Housing Grant in 2005, and their renewal projects have been submitted and awarded funding in the MFHC annual application since then. This year’s application is in the amount of $98,593.00. When informed that their application scored the highest of all of the housing projects, Tammy Harris responded with, “This is great news!”

Two new projects are being submitted in 2018. United Way of Citrus County has proposed to operate a Rapid Rehousing program that will re-house literally homeless households. This $68,489.00 application scored well and will be in Tier 1. Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg is proposing to serve Citrus and Hernando County residents with a Rapid Rehousing program that will also re-house literally homeless households. Their $57,881 project will provide housing and case management services.

Mid Florida Homeless Coalition is excited to have these projects, as well as a project from Lake County Housing for Permanent Supportive Housing and two others that will allow the MFHC to continue operating its Mid Florida Information Network and the Coordinated Access System in Citrus, Hernando, Lake and Sumter Counties.

All projects can be found on our website in the library under CoC HUD Grants.

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Note to editor: For any additional information please contact Barbara Wheeler, Executive Director at mfhc01@gmail.com or via mobile at 352.697.0623.